Capacity Enhancing Cell Energy Management in Heterogeneous Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cellular radio communication networks lack effective energy-saving mechanisms, particularly in heterogeneous networks with multiple cell types, leading to high energy consumption and no established solutions for LTE and WCDMA without multi-carrier options.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method to selectively switch capacity-enhancing cells on and off in heterogeneous radio communication networks, while maintaining cell configuration information, to achieve energy savings without disrupting service availability, using wake-up and shut-down messages between base stations serving basic and capacity-enhancing cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If capacity enhancing cells are continuously operated to maintain service availability, then service reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic cell operation by allowing capacity enhancing cells to be selectively switched on and off based on real-time network load conditions. The basic cell continuously monitors traffic load and triggers wake-up calls when capacity is needed, or allows shutdown when load is low, making the system adaptive rather than static.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic monitoring of load conditions by the basic cell and periodic transmission of wake-up call messages or shutdown indications to the capacity enhancing cell. This periodic action allows the system to maintain service availability during high load while saving energy during low load periods.
2Use of energy by moving object
If capacity enhancing cells are switched off for energy saving, then energy consumption is reduced, but service availability may be disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains cell configuration information in the basic cell even when the capacity enhancing cell is shut down. This preliminary retention of configuration data enables rapid reactivation when needed, preventing service disruption while allowing energy savings during low load periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The basic cell continuously monitors network load conditions and provides feedback to determine when to wake up or shut down the capacity enhancing cell. This feedback mechanism ensures that energy saving actions do not compromise service availability, as the cell is quickly reactivated when load increases.
3Loss of time
If cell configuration information is retained after shutdown, then reactivation speed is improved, but memory resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively retaining cell configuration information only for capacity enhancing cells that are frequently activated and deactivated, rather than maintaining all possible cell configurations. This targeted approach minimizes memory usage while enabling fast reactivation when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided support mechanisms for at least one adding and removing a cell from operation in a heterogeneous radio network having a first type of basic cell for providing basic radio coverage and a second type of cell associated to a basic cell as a capacity enhancing cell. A capacity enhancing cell is selectively switched on and off. When the capacity enhancing cell is shut down the cell does not exist over the air while cell configuration information is kept. When the capacity enhancing cell is switched on the cell becomes available again over the air interface. An indication of shut-down and a wake-up call message for switch-on of the capacity enhancing cell are communicated between a base station serving the capacity enhancing cell and a base station serving the basic cell. In this way energy savings can be supported without disrupting service availability.